Attitude (ˈæt ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud) n. – the way a person views something or tends to behave towards it, often in an evaluative way.
In our new series on attitude, we will be focusing on the importance of how we view everyday situations. I have chosen a resource to complement this series by James MacDonald, titled “Lord, Change My Attitude: Before It’s Too Late.” For those of you interested in going deeper into this topic over the next several weeks, I highly recommend this resource.
Our guiding scripture passage on this topic is Numbers chapter 11 – 14 (please read this passage).
In the above passage, we find the story of 12 spies sent by God and Moses into the promised land. They were to bring back a report that would encourage the people to go and take possession of the land that God was planning to give them. The people of Israel had been through challenging times, they had been in slavery in Egypt, and had miraculously escaped and were led through a perilous desert by God. Each of step of the way, God had revealed how he was planning to go before them and bring them to a new place, the promised land, filled with abundance. This would be a place where they would have the freedom to be a new people, God’s people.
What was the result? Ten out of 12 spies sent to investigate the land came back and exclaimed the promised land could not be conquered. These 10 spies were full of fear, they convinced the people to turn back from the plan that God had for them. In contrast two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, came back from their mission and told the people, “we should by all means go up and take possession of [the land], for we shall surely overcome it.”
Two different viewpoints were presented to the people of Israel. Unfortunately, they did not choose to follow Joshua and Caleb. The result was disastrous. The 10 spies with an attitude of pessimism and fear, and all the people who listened to them would never enter the promised land. Their grumbling, complaining, and critical attitude would keep them from living the life God had intended for them. Instead these people would spend the rest of their lives in the desert, a place of hardship.
The account of Israel’s journey with God in Numbers 11 -14, demonstrates the importance of attitude. Israel’s attitude had led them down a dangerous and destructive path. Even though God had guaranteed them safe passage to a wonderful new land, they could not believe it, and therefore missed their God given opportunity.
Unfortunately, we are all susceptible to developing an attitude that does not allow us to move forward in the life struggles that confront us. I can personally attest that attitude, or the way that everyday situations are viewed, can contribute to problems like depression, anxiety, marital conflict, or worse. Therefore I’m passionate about helping people develop an attitude that will not only help them turn around the problems in their life, but will help them realize and see the plan that God has for them.
Look for the next installment of this series, and our exploration of how God calls us to change our attitude. Explore in this series how changing your attitude, can play a big part of freeing you to live the life that God has planned for you.
